America

Battered and bruised, but still flying high and proud!

I saw this flag is flying and waving atop one of our local shrimp boats, docked on Hilton Head Island, SC.

America remembers 9/11. We shall never forget!

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Does a Pool Add Value to a Home?

Learn how a pool affects the value of your home, and get advice on construction and maintenance costs.

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Does a pool add value to a home? No. And yes.

In general, building a pool is not the best way to add value to your home. You're better off making physical improvements to your actual house instead of adding a pool to your yard.

However, a pool can add value to your home in some cases:

          •If you live in a higher-end neighborhood and most of your neighbors have pools. In fact, not having a pool might make your home harder to sell.

          •If you live in a warm climate, such as Florida or Hawaii.

          •Your lot is big enough to accommodate a pool and still have some yard left over for play or gardening.

Still, that's no guarantee you'll get a return on your investment. At most, your home's value might increase 7% if all circumstances are right when it comes time to sell. Those circumstances include the points made above, plus:

          •The style of the pool. Does it fit the neighborhood?

          •The condition of the pool. Is it well-maintained?

          •Age of the pool. If you put a pool in today and sell in 20 years, you probably won't recoup your costs, especially if the pool needs updating.

          •You can attract the right buyer. Couples with very young children may shy away from pools because of safety issues, but an older childless couple may fall in love with it.

But only you, the homeowner, can determine the true return on investment. A pool can add value to your quality of life and enhance the enjoyment of your home. You can't put a price tag on that.

But we can put a price tag on how much a pool costs to build and maintain.

The Cost to Build a Pool

The average cost in the U.S. to install, equip, and fill a 600-sq.-ft. concrete pool starts at $30,000.

Add in details like safety fences (most states require them), waterfalls, lighting, landscaping, and perhaps a spa (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/pools-spas/what_to_consider_before_building_spa/), and you're easily looking at totals approaching $100,000.

Costs also depend on the type of pool you choose.

Gunite is the most popular in-ground pool. Gunite is a mixture of cement and sand, which can be poured into almost any shape. It has replaced concrete pools as the sought-after standard.

Fiberglass shells and those with vinyl liners fall on the lower end of the budget scale, but the liners typically need replacing every 10 or so years. Changing the liner requires draining the pool and replacing the edging (called coping), so over time, costs add up. Most homebuyers will insist that you replace a vinyl liner, even if it's only a few years old.


Filtration and Heating

The filtration pump is the biggest energy hog in a pool system, so you want to get the most efficient pump possible. The good news here is that new, variable-speed pumps use up to 80% less energy than old single-speed pumps, cutting operating expenses dramatically. At about $500, these cost more up front, but some local utilities offer rebates through participating pool dealers. You can further cut energy costs by setting the pump to run at non-peak times, when rates for electricity are lower.

If you're planning to heat your pool, gas heaters are the least expensive to purchase and install, but they typically have the highest operation and maintenance costs. Many pool owners opt instead for electric heat pumps, which extract heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to the water. Heat pumps take longer than gas to warm the pool, but they're more energy-efficient, costing $200 to $400 less to operate per swimming season. Regardless of heating system, covering the pool with a solar blanket to trap heat and reduce evaporation will further lower operating costs.

Maintenance Expenses

All pools require that the water be balanced for proper pH, alkalinity, and calcium levels. They also need sanitizing to control bacteria and germs, which is where chlorine has traditionally entered the picture.

These days you have a variety of options, including systems that use bromine, salt, ozone, ionizers, or other chemical compounds that can be less irritating to skin. Chlorine remains the most popular because the upfront costs are reasonable, and you don't have to be as rigid about checking the levels on a set schedule. But as far as your wallet is concerned, they all even out in the end.

In a seasonal swimming climate, budget about $600 annually for maintenance if you shoulder the chemical balancing and cleaning yourself; in a year-round climate, it's more like $15 to $25 per week.

To save yourself the task of once-a-week vacuuming, you can buy a robotic cleaning system for between $500 and $800 that will do the job for you. In locations where the pool must be opened and closed for the season, add another $500 each time for a pro to handle this task.

Insurance and Taxes

A basic homeowners insurance policy typically covers a pool structure without requiring a separate rider, but you should increase your liability from the standard amount.

It costs about $30 a year to bump coverage from $100,000 to $500,000. Many underwriters require you to fence in the pool so children can't wander in unsupervised.

In some areas, adding a pool may increase your annual property taxes (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/property-taxes/property-tax-appeal/), but it won't necessarily add to your home's selling price. For that reason, try to keep your total building cost between 10% and 15% of what you paid for your house, lest you invest too much in an amenity that won't pay you back.

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Julie Sturgeon

Published: July 10, 2013

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How to Use a Programmable Thermostat to See Real Savings

A programmable thermostat can help you rake in the energy savings, but there's a hitch: You've got to pick one you'll actually use.

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It's official: The programmable thermostat is the VCR of our day. Why? We think they're too complicated.

According to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, nearly 90% of Americans say they've rarely (or never) programmed their thermostat because they're not sure how to do it.

But it's really not that hard, and it's definitely worth doing because it can save you up to 15% a year on energy costs.

The first step is to pick the thermostat that best suits your scheduling needs so you can "set it and forget it," an approach the U.S. Energy Department advocates to get the most savings.

Picking the Right Thermostat

There are four types of programmable thermostats, each with a distinctive scheduling style:

          •7-day programming. Best for individuals or families with erratic schedules, since this is the most flexible option. It lets you program a different heating/cooling schedule for each day of the week. Average price range: $55-$125.

          •5-1-1 programming. One heating/cooling schedule for the week, plus you can schedule a different heating/cooling plan for Saturday and Sunday. Average price range: $35-$78.

          •5-2 programming. Same as 5-1-1 programming, except Saturday and Sunday will have the same heating/cooling plan. Average price range: $28-$30.

          •1-week programming. You can only set one heating/cooling plan that will be repeated daily for the entire week. Average price range: $20-$23.

You'll need a program for both the cooler months and the warmer months.

TIP: Before buying a programmable thermostat, identify the type of equipment used to heat and cool your home so you can check for compatibility. For example, do you have central heating and cooling, or just a furnace or baseboard heating? Otherwise, you may not reap the rewards of energy savings and may risk harming your heating and cooling (http://www.houselogic.com/maintenance-repair/preventative-home-maintenance/heating-cooling/) equipment.

Programming the Thermostat

Most programmable thermostats have a pre-programmed setting that's supposed to be for the typical American family. But what family is typical these days? You need to adjust the thermostat's settings so it's in sync with the life you and your family lead instead of some mythical family.

Programming options are based on:

          •Wake Time

          •Sleep Time

          •Leave Time

          •Return Time

The U.S Department of Energy suggests the following settings in order to shave up to 15% off your energy bill:

Winter months:

          •For the hours you're home and awake, program the temp to 68 deg F.

          •Lower by 10 deg; to 15 deg; for the hours you're asleep or out of the house.

Summer months:

          •For the hours you're home, program air conditioning to 78 deg F.

          •For the days you don't need cooling, manually shut off the AC. Keep in mind, it will kick back on if the house gets too warm.

          •Program the AC to shut off during the hours you're out of the house.

Here are a few programming timing tips that can help you create the best set-it-and-forget-it heating and cooling schedule for your home:

          •Shut down heat or air conditioning 20 to 30 minutes before you leave home each day.

          •Turn on heat or air conditioning 20 to 30 minutes before you come home each day.

          •Reduce the heating or cooling 60 minutes before you go to sleep each night.

          •Increase heating or cooling about 30 minutes before you wake up each morning.

Spend time tweaking your program for a few days to make sure it feels right.

TIP: With a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat, you can control your home's temperature while on the go. That way, you're not wasting energy if you're running late or forgot to create a new program before going on vacation.

FYI: A furnace does NOT have to work harder to warm a house after the temperature has been set low during the day.

Thermostats That Make Programming Easier

Want something that's simpler? Newer more high-tech models have simplified the process:

          •The Nest Learning Thermostat: It creates a custom heating and cooling schedule for your home based on motion detection technology. Plus since it is Wi-Fi, it can be controlled remotely. Price: $250.

          •Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat: This device makes it easy to create a custom heating and cooling plan. Unlike conventional programmable thermostats, it has a large color interface that displays a simple menu that walks you through all the programming steps. It also "learns" your home and will send you personal notifications if the temperature is not right, or if there's a power outage. Price: $199.

FYI: Thermostats made prior to 2001 may contain mercury. To see if your programmable thermostat contains mercury, check with the manufacturer. If you decide to dispose of a thermostat that contains mercury, check out how to do so safely in your area at Thermostat Recycling Corporation (http://www.thermostat-recycle.org/). (Not sure why mercury is so bad? Here's the skinny: It's toxic and it never breaks down. When it enters the waste stream, it permanently damages the ecosystem.)

Have questions or need help programming your thermostat? Below are tech support numbers for popular manufacturers:

          •Honeywell: Wi-Fi Models: 1-855-733-5465

          •Honeywell: All other thermostats: 1-800-468-1502

          •Hunter: 1-888-830-1326

          •White Rodgers: 1-800-284-2925

          •Trane: 1-877-288-7707

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Deirdre Sullivan

Published: July 12, 2013

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What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

You'd be surprised at what your home insurance policy doesn't cover. Here's what is and isn't covered by your insurance.

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What does your homeowners insurance (http://www.houselogic.com/protect-your-home/home-insurance/) cover? The short answer is: "A basic homeowners insurance policy (called HO-1 in insurance lingo) covers your home and possessions if they're damaged or destroyed by these things:

          •Fire
          •Lightning
          •Windstorm (unless you live in a hurricane zone)
          •Hail (not available everywhere)
          •Explosion
          •Riots
          •Civil commotion
          •Aircraft (and things falling from aircraft)
          •Vehicles (and things thrown from vehicles)
          •Smoke
          •Vandalism (although some policies exclude this)
          •Malicious mischief
          •Theft
          •Volcanic eruption

But many states don't allow this basic policy to be sold. Instead, you have to buy an upgraded policy that covers more perils.

Upgraded Homeowners Insurance

That upgraded policy (called HO-2) adds protection to your home and possessions from even more perils. You get protection from everything on the HO-1 list (above) plus:

          •Falling objects

          •The weight of ice, snow, or sleet

          •Flooding from your appliances, plumbing, HVAC, or fire-protection sprinkler system

          •Damage to electrical parts caused by artificially generated electrical currents (such as a power surge not caused by lightning). But damaged electronics such as computers aren't covered.

          •Glass breakage

          •Abrupt collapse (say from termite damage)

That same list applies to the homeowners insurance you buy for a condominium or co-op (except then it's called HO-6 instead of HO-2).

With HO-1, HO-2, and HO-6, what you see is what you get. So if zombies attacked your home, your HO-1 or HO-2 wouldn't cover the damage because zombies aren't on the list of specific things those policies cover.

The Most Complete Homeowners Insurance

The most complete and protective form of homeowners insurance (called HO-3) covers you for all perils except some specific ones like:

          •Floods
          •Earthquakes
          •Wars
          •Nuclear accidents
          •Landslides
          •Mudslides
          •Sinkholes

With this policy, if zombies attacked, you'd be covered because zombies weren't specifically excluded by your HO-3 policy.

What Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover
No matter which basic policy you get, it's not going to cover everything than can damage or destroy your home. Typical homeowners policies don't cover:

          •Bad things that happen because you failed to maintain your home (like mold (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/home-insurance/homeowners-insurance-mold-covered/) )

          •Hurricanes

          •Floods

          •Earthquakes

          •Mudslides

          •Landslides

          •Sinkholes

          •War

          •Nuclear accidents

          •Sewer backups

          •Sump pump (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/plumbing/replacing-sump-pump/) failure

          •Ground movement and holes caused by mining (known as mine subsidence insurance)

          •Pollution

You can buy additional policies to cover some but not all of those perils (a quick Google search didn't turn up any nuclear accident coverage).

Other Things Homeowners Insurance Covers

In addition to covering your home, homeowners insurance also covers four more things:

1. Your outbuildings, landscaping, and hardscaping. If you have outbuildings (like a barn), landscaping, or hardscaping (like fences), your homeowners policy most likely covers those for up to 10% of your policy amount (5% for plants).

For example, if you have $100,000 in homeowners insurance and someone drives into your fence, the policy would cover 10%, or $10,000 in repairs.

Sometimes policies exclude damage to outbuildings, landscaping, or hardscaping caused by a particular peril (like wind).

2. Damage or loss of your personal belongings. Your homeowners policy covers your family's belongings, even when you take them out of the house. If your child heads to college with a laptop and it's stolen, that's probably covered by your homeowners insurance policy.

A home insurance policy covers a lot of your personal belongings, but not necessarily everything.

You'll need additional insurance if you have many expensive items like jewelry, furs, or antiques.
Policies will either state that your personal belongings are insured for replacement cost or cash value.

Replacement cost means that the insurance company will pay the full cost of replacing an item (such as the laptop mentioned above, or a sofa damaged in a fire) once you show a receipt. Cash value means the insurance company will issue you a check for the amount that the laptop or sofa would have been worth when it was stolen or destroyed.

3. Temporary living expenses if your home is so damaged you can't live in it. When you can't live in your home, your homeowners insurance covers your living expenses, including hotel bills and meals. But, you can't live in the hotel forever and eat lobster every night on the insurance company's tab. Your policy will have limits on how long you stay and how much you can spend.

4. Injuries or accidents at your house. Homeowners insurance coverage includes liability - meaning it covers you when you or your family members cause injuries or damage. This coverage also pays when your dog bites someone (medical payments) or someone falls and injures themselves.

Add an umbrella policy (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/umbrella-insurance/whats-covered-umbrella-insurance) to boost your liability coverage into the millions.

Homeowners Insurance for Older Homes

There's another kind of homeowners insurance (HO-8) used when your home is so old it would be impossible to replace. It couldn't be built like the original -- that is, new electrical code wouldn't permit the same electrical, etc.

An HO-8 policy covers the same perils as the basic HO-1, but will only pay you the repair cost or market value instead of the replacement value.

If your home is old, but not so old that it's historic, you might want another homeowners insurance coverage. A "law and ordinance" policy covers the cost of rebuilding using today's building codes. It's good to have if the building codes have changed a lot (for example, in Florida) since your home was built.

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Dona DeZube
Published: July 15, 2013

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DIY Wish List: Function Trumps Form

A new study examines which outdoor projects DIYers would love to do . . . but probably won't.

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When it comes to picking outdoor DIY projects, we found it interesting that homeowners opt for functionality over form - and even finances, according to a new survey of U.S. homeowners. That's music to our pragmatic ears.

By a wide margin, homeowners say they prefer functional projects (57%) over those that just look good (28.3%) or have financial value (14.7%).

But just because DIYers desire a project, that doesn't mean they're going to strap on a tool belt and actually do it. The survey also reveals the most-wanted projects a DIYer is least likely to do: High-skill/high-effort projects, like building a deck or privacy fence (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/fences/fencing-guide-options/), probably will never make it off the DIYer's wish list.

The most-desirable projects promise to make outdoor time more fun; but the ones homeowners probably will do are the easiest, like planting a garden or spreading around some landscaping pebbles.

Take a look at these numbers crunched by the Home Projects Council, a group of home improvement experts that sponsored the online survey of 1,278 homeowners planning outdoor home improvement projects in 2013.

Top-5 Desirable Outdoor Projects

 1. Plant a garden (49.1%): Anyone with a shovel and some seeds can try this project, though it'll take some experience to grow temperamental veggies, like tomatoes (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/plants-trees/how-grow-your-best-tomatoes-ever/).

2. Landscaping with pebbles, stones, or rocks (28.3%): Attractive landscaping (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/landscaping-gardening/landscaping-home-value/) adds value to your home by boosting curb appeal (http://www.houselogic.com/home-topics/curb-appeal/). And it doesn't take much effort to spread pea gravel in garden paths to add color and texture.

 Tip: Edge your path to keep the gravel from spreading.

3. Build a deck (http://www.houselogic.com/home-topics/how-to-add-a-deck/) (22.8%): A deck is a great way to create outdoor living space, especially when your yard is sloped. Deck maintenance (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/decks/deck-care-and-maintenance) is easy, too: A coat of sealer will keep it looking good.

4. Create a fire or BBQ pit (20.5%): This retro project evokes 1950s dads flipping burgers over a handmade brick pit. Today, you're more likely to install a gas grill (http://www.houselogic.com/photos/appliances/grills-gone-wild/slide/pretty-in-pork/) in the pit, which makes the stainless steel seem less industrial and more homey.

5. Build a patio or walkway with pavers or bricks (19.2%): These stone hardscapes are elegant, functional, and long-lasting.

 Top 5 Projects DIYers Wouldn't Do on a Bet

Hey, a guy can dream, and then hire a pro to:

          •Build an outdoor kitchen (http://www.houselogic.com/home-topics/outdoor-kitchens/).

          •Pour concrete slabs for patios, steps, or sidewalks.

          •Install a garden pond.

          •Resurface a concrete driveway, sidewalk, or patio (http://www.houselogic.com/outdoors/patios/).

          •Build a deck (http://www.houselogic.com/home-topics/how-to-add-a-deck/).

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Published: August 01, 2013

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Survey: More Renters Want to Become Homeowners

Homeownership as a priority is on the upswing. And a look back shows perceptions about owning weren't as negative during the recession as the media suggested.

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Americans have favored buying over renting, even during the recent Great Recession, and this year is no different. The 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey, by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS found Americans overwhelmingly believe owning a home is a good financial decision, and a majority of renters say homeownership is one of their highest priorities for the future.

During the recession, much media coverage of homeownership focused on the idea that lots of people thought renting was much smarter than buying. But that wasn't necessarily the case as a look back shows.

The decline in home prices and turmoil in the housing markets did influence consumers' perception of housing as a sound investment -- but not by nearly as much as the media made it appear.

From 2007 to 2011, based on earlier Pulse surveys, the share of people who thought buying a home was a good financial decision dropped from about 85% to 73% and the share of people who were "not so strongly" positive grew. By 2013, we're back to 80% thinking homeownership is a sound financial decision.

You can interpret that dip two ways. Some would say homeowners were resilient as prices declined. Others would say the recession was a wake up call for investors who viewed the real estate market as a short-term investment.

Regardless of which way you see it, most of us have returned to the much more realistic viewpoint that real estate is a solid, if long-term, investment.

This year's Home Pulse survey also found:

          •Eight in 10 Americans think buying a home is a good financial decision.

          •68% believe now is a good time to buy a home.

          •36% of renters are now thinking about purchasing a home, up from 25% last year.

          •The proportion of renters who say they prefer to rent dropped from 31% to 25%.

          •Half of renters say that eventually owning a home is one of their highest personal priorities, up to 51% from 42%.

Those renters should be in a good position to buy given that home prices are pretty affordable (unless you're a bus driver in San Francisco). Rising interest rates could come into play, but anything around 6% looks good compared with the double-digit interest rates of the 1980s.

Attitudes toward the housing market have also improved over the years. Nearly four in 10 Americans (38%) said their local market was more active this year, compared with 51% of people who reported a slowdown in local activity last year.

There is also less concern than in the past about the drop in home values; almost half (49%) said housing prices in their area are more expensive than a year ago.

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Dona DeZube

Published: August 05, 2013

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Despite $18.6 Million Jury Award, Fixing Credit Report Still a DIY Job

We follow the issue of mistakes in credit reports pretty closely because they're such an important part of getting a home loan. So we were intrigued to see a jury recently give one of the credit bureaus 18.6 million reasons to stop ignoring consumers who want credit report errors fixed (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/home-taxes-financing/dispute-my-credit-report/).

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The jury awarded $18.6 million (http://abcnews.go.com/Business/equifax-loses-186-million-lawsuit/story?id=19803421) to Julie Miller, an Oregon woman whose rather common name led to her credit information getting mixed in with another Julie Miller's not-so-great credit information.

Miller did what we suggest you do to fix credit errors. Those tactics worked and two of the credit reporting companies corrected their mistakes, but a third - Equifax - didn't fix the errors.

After eight attempts in two years to get Equifax to correct her credit report, Miller sued, claiming that not only was her credit information wrong, but that the company violated her privacy by sharing her private financial information with companies that asked for information about the other Julie Miller.

Miller isn't alone in her frustration with the credit reporting companies. Nearly a quarter of Americans say they've had credit report problems.

 If the DIY tactics we suggest don't get your credit report corrected, you can ask the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau to step in. Last October, the Bureau started tackling consumers' complaints about credit reporting.

 Your state attorney general (http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php) is another advocate you can turn to if you have problems getting your credit report corrected.

Given the whopping size of Miller's award, suing over credit report mistakes may look like a good option. The $18.6 million award included $180,000 in compensatory damages for Miller's losses and $18.4 million in punitive damages. However, legal bloggers predict a punitive damages award that's 100 times the actual loss won't survive the appeal Equifax is certain to file.

Even if it's upheld on appeal, $18.6 million probably isn't a lot of money to a company like Equifax, which had revenues of more than $2 billion in 2012. But we sure hope it's a wake-up call to all the credit reporting companies that ignoring consumers can cost you.

Whatever happens with this case, your best bet is to do what you can to improve your credit score and use Annualcreditreport.com to check your credit reports for free three times a year, so when errors do happen you can jump on them right away.

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Dona DeZube

Published: August 13, 2013

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